An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions.
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings. W/b 26th May, 2nd Jun and 16th Jun exact day tbd by popular vote.
Week 3 – club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering; practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
Age 16+ ( open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5: Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is 12th May 2025
As the year comes to an end it’s always a good time to take stock, and a lot happened in Scottish Orienteering in 2024. The World Orienteering Championships (WOC) obviously stands out – the event was very visible and the energy and enthusiasm of the hundreds of volunteers who delivered the event smoothly and safely on each day was clear for all to see. Volunteers are usually visible at our events but there’s also a lot of less visible hard work that goes on behind the scenes. It’s just as important for our sport so I’d like to shine some light on it.
Scottish Orienteering is rooted in volunteering and pitching-in, most obviously at club level where countless individuals give up their time and energy in many different ways. They do a fantastic job at delivering key things that make Scottish Orienteering tick.
However at this time of year we feel it is important to say thank you to those whose, often unacknowledged, contribution is key to supporting our small staff team and helping Scottish Orienteering. There are two types of volunteer role which directly support the SOA – Board Directors are the most often highlighted but this article is here to say thank you to those SOA Volunteers whose quiet work in the background is not often noticed. Their roles include coordinating the competitions calendar, making sure winners get their trophies, providing valuable technical expertise, and managing the Scottish squads for the annual Home Internationals competitions (Juniors, Seniors and Veterans) as well as in the background guiding our work on equality, inclusion and diversity.
They do a fantastic job, don’t seek the spot light -but their dedication, expertise and commitment plays a vital role in ensuring that orienteering continues to flourish across Scotland. As highly active and enthusiastic orienteers they are familiar faces at our events, but you may not be fully aware of the work they do behind the scenes on behalf of all of us. You can see them on our website, Our lovely volunteers , but the current roll of honour is below.
So as we reach the end of another successful year, a special thank a special thank you to them, and here’s to a well-earned break before the start of another busy calendar!
Current SOA volunteers: (in alphabetical order)
Caroline Clarke – Trophy coordinator
Colin Eades – Planner advocate
Esther Gooch – Advisor on Inclusion Group
Janice Nisbet – Veterans Home International team (VHI) manager
Katherine Kirk – Advisor on Inclusion Group
Kirsten Strain – Senior Home International (SHI) team manager
Judy Bell – Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad (ScotJOS) team manager
Paul Hammond – Scottish Orienteering League (SOL) Scores coordinator
Rachel Kirkland – Scottish Orienteering Urban League (SOUL) coordinator
Robin Strain – Electronic systems coordinator
Roger Goddard – Scottish Junior Orienteering Squad (ScotJOS) head coach
One of the main skills we use when orienteering is planning. To allow you to plan for the year ahead and develop your skills we have drawn together a list of the current coaching and volunteer training opportunities for the year ahead. To avoid disappointment, get them in your diary now!
Sign up forms can be found on the SOA Website and will be advertised in due course or contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org for more details.
Our article “SOA Annual Training Programme” details the annual cycle for our training programme but if there are any courses you would like to see or want to know more contact our Coaching and Volunteer Officer, Suzanne Robins-Bird. It helps us to plan and provide the courses you want if you sign up in plenty of time and communicate your needs to us.
This online Event Safety and Welfare (ESW) workshop is aimed at all who orienteer – whether you are a coach, a competitor, an event official (planner or organiser) or helper. It is a suitable refresher for those who have attended the course before – there are some new materials!
This course will be run online via zoom using Google tools and is free to members.
This online Event Safety and Welfare (ESW) workshop is aimed at all who orienteer – whether you are a coach, a competitor, an event official (planner or organiser) or helper. It is a suitable refresher for those who have attended the course before – there are some new materials!
This course will be run online via zoom using Google tools and is free to members.
This in-person Event Safety and Welfare (ESW) workshop is aimed at all who orienteer – whether you are a coach, a competitor, an event official (planner or organiser) or helper. It is a suitable refresher for those who have attended the course before – there are some new materials!
This course will be run in person in Edinburgh – venue tbd – and is free to members.
An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This fun course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
•
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions.
•
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings.
•
Dates are w/b 26th, 30th May and 9th Jun .
•
Exact day will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
•
Week 3 is a club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering.
Practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
•
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
•
Age 16+ (open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
•
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION:
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is Friday 9th May 2025
An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions.
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings. Thursdays 30th Jan, 6th Feb and 20th Feb
Week 3 – club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering; practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
Age 16+ ( open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is 16th January 2025
Juniors – are you a keen orienteer who would like to start getting involved in volunteering? Club volunteer coordinators – do you ever struggle to find event officials? Coaches – do you want a pair of young legs to help you out?
SOA Young Leader courses are all designed to give juniors the knowledge & experience to get involved with volunteering in the club, easing the load whilst giving them new, transferable skills. Run by experts who have worked in the roles for many years, we have 3 areas of expertise – hopefully something to suit everyone:
